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The Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) has officially completed its first 100 days of operation, marking a milestone for India’s aviation sector. But on the ground, the 2-3 lakh residents of Ulwe are living in a fuel desert. Despite CIDCO’s ironclad assurance that a petrol pump would be operational by December 2024, the deadline has passed with nothing to show but empty plots and broken promises.

This infrastructural vacuum has turned Ulwe into a ‘ticking time bomb’, where a flourishing black market for illegal bottled-petrol is the only way for locals to keep their engines running. CIDCO had earlier identified three plots for fuel stations, and officials had hinted that the wait would end by December 2024. However, the plan remains on paper.

Roadside stalls sell petrol illegally at inflated prices. PICS/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

While a lone CNG station at Ulwe Sector 5 has finally opened, the majority of motorists — dependent on petrol — are left at the mercy of the bottled-petrol mafia. mid-day made several attempts to contact CIDCO officials, but they remained unavailable for comment.

Safety concerns

The danger isn’t theoretical. In 2024, a blast in Ulwe Sector 8 — caused by illegally stored petrol — wiped out an entire family of four, including 14-year-old twins. “We are living on a powder keg. Most of the roadside stalls store 20-30 litres of petrol in plastic cans. CIDCO promised us a pump by December 2024. The authorities waiting for another tragedy,” said Sector 5 resident Kishore Biswas.

Airport paradox

As airport taxis begin to clog the Ulwe nodes, the lack of a refuelling hub is creating a logistical nightmare.  “We have the world’s most modern airport and the Atal Setu, but we don’t have a petrol pump. I don’t feel safe walking past shops where I can smell petrol fumes. CIDCO keeps giving us new dates, but nothing it done on ground,” said Sneha Tripathi, a Sector 19 resident.

‘Bottled-petrol’ economy

In the absence of a legal fuel station, there are numerous illegal makeshift outlets at every street corner in Ulwe selling bottled-petrol. Petrol in one-litre plastic bottles is priced at a staggering premium of Rs 130 to Rs 150, nearly 40 per cent higher than official rates. “It’s a double whammy for us. We pay premium prices for ‘smart’ housing, yet we have to buy fuel like it’s contraband. I have to travel 7 km to Belapur just to fill my tank. If I am running low, I am forced to buy illegal bottled-petrol, which is often adulterated and ruins the engine,” said Mithun Kamble, a resident of Sector 17.